Joy

Today is Gaudete Sunday – the third Sunday of Advent. Christmas day is fast approaching!  The pink candle, representing joy, is lit on the advent wreath and we focus on the joy we experience as the time for Jesus’ coming draws near.

In my readings for this morning, the words of St. Augustine echoed what I feel as I prepare my reflections to post on this blog.   He said:  “when I think about what I am going to say, the word or message is already in my heart.  When I want to speak to you, I look for a way to share with your heart what is already mine.  In my search for a way to let this message reach you, so that the word already in my heart may find place also in yours, I use my voice to speak to you.  The sound of my voice brings the meaning of the word to you and then passes away.  The word which the sound has brought to you is now in your heart and yet it is still also in mine.” He continues:  “The sound of the voice has made itself heard in the service of the word and has gone away, as though it were saying my joy is complete.  Let us hold on to the word.”

As you know from the information on my pages, I started this blog because I wanted to share with others the joy I feel in my heart as a result of my deepened relationship with Christ.  I wanted to share information that would inspire others to continue working toward deepening their relationship as well.  Of all the things I have done in my life,  of all the careers and studies, I have to say writing for this blog has kept me busiest and is one of the most difficult tasks I have ever attempted, but the only one I truly enjoy.

Why do I consider this the most difficult?  Because I know that the words and thoughts I share are not my own.  I cannot and do not depend on my own devices to teach or inspire.  I wait for inspiration to come from the Holy Spirit, but in order to receive it, I must be still.  Still, not for 5 minutes, not for 1/2 hour but sometimes for hours, sometimes even for days.  The messages I share don’t come easy.  When they come, I read and re-read and edit and sit contemplating the words further until I am guided to “send it off- the message is clear.” My intention is to post something everyday, but there are days where my daily obligations and responsibilities don’t allow me the time to be as still as I need to be to post a reflection and I don’t want to post just anything.  Hence, the day or two of “lull.”

In a day where so many people are turning away from God and dissociating themselves from the Church, the guidepost to God, I think it is important to arm ourselves with knowledge – knowledge of our history as Christians, knowledge of our customs and most importantly, knowledge of our God through the Word.  This takes time and patience because not only should we know the information, we should make it our own, either through understanding or relation to personal experience or both.   Have you ever had a conversation with a person who seemed to be simply regurgitating information, as opposed to really knowing what they were talking about?  I have and the conversation is not at all engaging. The lack of personal knowledge and understanding makes me want to turn away from whatever that person is promoting – be it a product, opinion or religion.  How can we expect others to follow our lead or take us seriously if we don’t know what we’re talking about. Shouldn’t we be sitting back and taking stock of our customs, traditions and beliefs and understanding why we believe them or why we are so devoted to them?   Not understanding these things is like saying we exhibit a certain personality because “that’s just the way I am.”. Is that really the truth? Isn’t there more to the story, something deeper?  We must be clear and we can only be clear if we truly understand.

This is the perfect segue to the words of St. Ambrose.  He advises us:  “let your words be rivers, clean and limpid (completely clear) so that in your exhortations you may charm the ears of your people……….. let your sermons be full of understanding…… let the meaning of your words shine forth, let understanding blaze out.  See that your addresses and expositions do not need to invoke authority of others, but let your words be their own defense.  Let no word escape your lips in vain or be uttered without depth of meaning.”. In other words, understand fully whatever it is you are going to speak about.  Don’t just simply quote and recite, just for the sake of “sounding” like you know what you’re talking about.  These words are challenging, aren’t they?  To be able to speak words of wisdom that possess depth of meaning requires much reading, much contemplation and obviously much time and little distraction.  Are you willing to take the time?  If not for the sake of sharing with others then at least for the sake of deepening your relationship with our Lord?  In my own experience, the reading and contemplation have produced a peace in my heart that I hope reflects the light of Christ to the world.  The peace in my heart has allowed me to receive Christ on a deeper level.  Christ is the source of all my JOY!  Happy Gaudete Sunday!  God bless you!